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Every few months, a new band emerges from the music scene with everyone anticipating it to be the savior of rock n’ roll in the modern age. As the sound of raw vocals and gritty guitar riffs become replaced by electronic/contemporary beats, it’s almost impossible to find a new (and decent) rock band in the midst of rappers and pop stars.

Earlier this year, Los Angeles based Alt-rock band, Starcrawler, released their first studio and self titled album. Running only 27 minutes long, the album provides a very straight forward and in-your-face approach to modern rock. Embellishing their music with the influence of genres ranging from 70’s metal to 90’s grunge gives Starcrawler a unique, true to self sound that heavily contrasts from the music that’s popular today.

The album kicks off with the songs “Train”, “Love’s Gone Again”, and leading single, “I Love La”; these tracks immediately pack a punch with choppy drums and intricate guitar riffs that are bound to incite an energetic response from the listener. Vocals from lead singer, Arrow de Wilde, and guitarist, Henri Cash, pair with the same chaotic sounds that are carried throughout the album in tracks like “Different Angles”, “Let Her Be”, and “Full of Pride” (my personal favorite). I can especially appreciate how prominent the bass is in all of the songs because it gives us the drive that’s crucial to any rock album.

Although the bulk of the album focuses on heavier instrumentals, the album has its slower moments with songs such as “Chicken Woman”, “Tears”, and “What I Want.” These tracks have almost a sludgy sound with low pounding drums while still having an edge to them. I’m not usually one that gets excited to hear slower ballads after listening to such a full-throttle album, but the last two songs provide a sense of vulnerability that perfectly compliments the overall raw-ness of the record.

After spending weeks listening to “Starcrawler”, there isn’t much I can complain about other than wanting it to be longer than half an hour. Even then, the length isn’t that big of a deal because it’s seems like a tribute to the late 70’s/early 80’s garage bands whose albums had very similar run-times.

Even though I’d give this album nothing less than a 4.5/5, it’s definitely not for the average listener. Starcrawler does an amazing job at packing energetic vibes that transcend way beyond the digital copy of the album, BUT the sound may be too gritty or “obnoxious” to those who aren’t familiar with the genre.

Overall, I think it’s safe to say Starcrawler’s self titled swept me off of my feet. I can’t even begin to explain how refreshing it is to see such a young, revivalist-type band rejuvenate the traditional rock ‘n roll sound and attitude. Throughout the record, you can hear the members pay homage to bands like Nirvana, Judas Priest, The Ramones, and Black Sabbath which ultimately makes me fall in love with the album even more. The band brings a whole new life to the Alt-rock sound, and the grittiness of the album is something I think the music industry desperately needs.